Boracay partially reopens

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will strictly enforce the compliance of tourists and establishments with the set of environmental guidelines during the partial reopening of Boracay beginning tomorrow.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said the guidelines will ensure the protection of the resort island from unsustainable tourism practices during its dry run or partial reopening from Oct. 15 to 25.

The guidelines include a regulation on tourist arrivals and number of persons allowed to stay in Boracay, in accordance with the island’s carrying capacity.

Cimatu, head of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, said the 11-day dry run would allow government to test all systems put in place during the six months Boracay underwent much-needed rest and cleanup.

He appealed for cooperation and understanding from all stakeholders and local tourists, who will be among the first to visit a renewed Boracay.

“We will be monitoring a lot of things, from managing the entrance, exit, and stay of the tourists, to enforcing rule of law on establishments that have been found to be non-compliant to laws and regulations,” Cimatu said.

He pointed out that the government would strictly enforce the “no compliance, no operation” policy for establishments not only during the dry run but beyond Boracay’s formal reopening on Oct. 26.

“We will not hesitate to close hotels and other establishments that would operate without clearance from the BIATF,” Cimatu said.

He warned tourists who are planning to visit the island to make sure they book their accommodations with compliant hotels and similar establishments, a complete list of which will be released by the Department of Tourism.

DENR is deploying at least 30 environmental enforcers to check on Boracay’s water quality, solid waste management, drainage and sewage systems, and occupation on forest areas and wetlands.